Before a politician acts, they should listen and learn, says Ravi Parmar, MLA for Juan de Fuca-Langford.
“I’ve always believed that in my core in anything I’ve done,” said Parmar, who took time out from his schedule to reflect on a busy 2023 that included him being elected after former-Premier John Horgan retired.
He said he has had the belief ever since he was a student activist who led a petition into an eventual walkout of students at the old Belmont High School.
There are challenges and growing pains in the community Parmar faces as MLA.
“Making sure that we’re hiring more doctors and nurses, so people have access to primary care. The housing crisis and affordability challenges people are facing. Those are the types of things that keep me up at night.”
Parmar, who had previously been involved with the school board for 10 years, said that he had to learn quickly about all aspects that affected his area and not just talk about education.
“What’s been unique in this job is it’s not just education, it’s also health care, it’s transportation, infrastructure, it’s housing, it’s Highway 14, fisheries issues out in Sooke, mining, forestry, you name it. And so that’s been a learning journey for me.”
He said that in 2024, he wants to improve the transportation infrastructure and complete the construction of the HOV lanes on the Old Island Highway. The economy and the cost of living crisis are also on his mind.
“I have heard stories that keep me up at night. I just spent the last couple of hours at the food bank, and this has been a record year for them. And, you know, those are the things that I want to continue to make efforts on in 2024.”
Parmar’s parents immigrated to Canada in 1990, and he was born in 1994. He spent time in Saanich and moved to Langford in 2004. He became involved in politics in 2005.
“We were doing a project on the 2005 election. And I decided, because I was a bit of a keener, to do an extra credit assignment, and that was to invite whoever won in writing to my class. And that person happened to be John Horgan.”
He and Horgan remained in contact, and then, as a student, with the old Belmont High School held together with duct tape, he led a petition to convince the government to replace that school with two new high schools.
“That’s how I’m known,” he said. “But you know that all of those stories and things I’ve done have just built a better understanding of me and the role of a community leader.
Parmar said he loved all his engagements with members of the public and even the opposition party when he was in session at the Legislature in Victoria.
“When giving my maiden speech, I highlighted Shirley Bond, a fierce, fierce adversary on the other side, but someone I respect because she has done so much in her time in government.”
Being 29 has not made his political life difficult. He said it does not come up that often.
“It might be because I don’t look 29, maybe 39. But in the legislature, we have people from all walks of life. We don’t always have, you know, perspectives from different communities. And I bring that perspective of someone in his 20s – late 20s.”
Parmar said that being an MLA is not your average nine-to-five job and that you are often on call and travelling to meet with people in the community.
“Some days where, you know, the first thing I do is I’m up at seven, and I’m making my way to Port Renfrew to go and engage with the Pacheedaht First Nation or people in Port Renfrew, or there’s some days I’m working late into the evening here at the office or, or at different community events.”
Parmar will be close to home for the holidays, and he is looking forward to catching up on some reading and doing some volunteer work around the community.
“One book I’ve been given us is How Not To Be a Politician. So that was a gift from a friend, who gave it to me. I’m always brushing up on my parliamentary practices book. I’m a geek when it comes to that.”
READ MORE: ‘Truly an honour’ Ravi Parmar sworn in as Langford-Juan de Fuca MLA